HB606 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Becky Nordgren

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Tick borne disease, physicians authorized to prescribe long-term antibiotic therapy under certain conditions

Summary

HB606 would authorize licensed Alabama physicians to prescribe long-term antibiotics for tick-borne diseases under specific clinical and documentation conditions.

What This Bill Does

Defines long-term antibiotic therapy as antibiotics given for more than four weeks (or in combination) by mouth, injection, or IV. Allows licensed physicians to prescribe, administer, or dispense such therapy to eliminate infection or control symptoms for a tick-borne disease or related symptoms, as long as the diagnosis and treatment are documented in the patient’s medical record. The diagnosis must be based on medical history and physical examination, with supportive testing data if used. The act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Licensed physicians in Alabama who diagnose tick-borne diseases and may prescribe or administer long-term antibiotic therapy under the bill.
• Patients diagnosed with tick-borne diseases or showing symptoms consistent with a tick-borne disease who could receive long-term antibiotic therapy when prescribed and documented.

Key Provisions

• Long-term antibiotic therapy is defined as administration of oral, intramuscular, or intravenous antibiotics for more than four weeks, singly or in combination.
• A licensed physician may prescribe, administer, or dispense long-term antibiotic therapy to eliminate infection or control symptoms for a patient with a tick-borne disease or compatible symptoms, with the clinical diagnosis and treatment documented in the patient’s medical record.
• Diagnosis must be based on medical history and physical examination, or with testing that provides supportive data, and must be documented by the prescribing physician.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health